Self-propelled curb finishing machine



Dec. 6, 1960 J. R. TOUT ET AL SELF-PROPELLED cums FINISHING MACHINE 3 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed Feb. 18, 1958 Fig. 66

TIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIII/IIIIIIIIL INVENTORS John R. Tbu BY EET'Z M1: @4132:

HTTYS Dec. 6, 1960 J. R. TOUT ET AL SELF-PROPELLED CURB FINISHING MACHINE 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed Feb. 18, 1958 V NN u; JDiJH BY Earl Hbby Dec. 6, 1960 J. R. TOUT ET AL SELF-PROPELLED CURB FINISHING MACHINE 3 Sheets-Sheet 5 Filed Feb. 18, 1958 United States Patent SELF-PROPELLED CURB FINISHING MACHINE John R. Tout, 3530 Platt Ave., and Earl Abby, 3973 N. Augusta Ave., both of Fresno, Calif.

Filed Feb. 18, 1958, Ser. No. 715,870

3 Claims. (Cl. 94-45) This invention relates to concrete finishing machines; the main object being to provide such a machine which is particularly designed for finishing curbs intended to have a surface of irregular transverse contour, such as those of the valley-gutter type, and which will finish the curbaccurately to such contour. Curbs of this type naturally have a low point in their surface contour intermediate the side edges thereof, and another object of the invention is to provide a machine which will work on and finish the concrete simultaneously in both directions laterally from the low point of the gutter and will move any excess concrete laterally out from such low point and discharge the same onto and over the header boards between which the concrete is confined.

At the same time, the machine is advancing along the curb, being supported on the header boards, which are of course pre-set to grade, so that the concrete finishing action takes place both in lateral and longitudinal directions.

Another object of the invention is to mount the machine on wheels which are relatively vertically adjustable, and to provide means for reversibly driving the wheels so that after the machine has made one pass along the length of curb being finished the machine may be raised to clear the finishing elements from the concrete, and the machine may then be run back to the starting point, ready for another pass.

This adjustability of the wheels, irrespective of their reversible driving also enables the finishing elements, which are mounted at fixed levels in the machine, to be set at different levels relative to theheader boards, so

-that said elements may be gradually lowered with sucthe left hand side of the same.

Fig. 3 is a cross section on line 33 of Fig. 2; the driving mechanism on the machine above the frame being omitted.

Fig. 4 is a similar view taken on line 4-4 of Fig. 2. Fig. 5 is a fragmentary enlarged longitudinal section on line 55 of Fig. 4. Referring now more particularly to the drawings, and to the characters of reference marked thereon, the machine comprises a rigid frame, indicated generally at 1, including longitudinally spaced, transverse front and rear end plates 2 and 3, respectively, and an intermediate plate 4 disposed parallel to and centrally between plates 1 and 2. The frame 1 on which the concrete finishing mechanism'is mounted is adapted to straddle the curb to be finished and the concrete 5 of which-when poured and while being finishedis confined between header boards 6 as usual, and the upper edges of which are set to a definite grade.

The frame 1 is supported from the header boards for movement along the curb by flanged board engaging wheels 7 at each end of the frame. The wheels at each end are fixed on a cross shaft 8 journaled in brackets 9 pivoted, as at 10 (see Fig. 2), in supported relation with the adjacent end plate of the frame on the outer face thereof for swinging in a vertical plane.

The wheel flanges 11 are disposed intermediate the ends of the wheels and engage the inner faces of the header boards; said flanges being concavely rounded on their sides opposite the header boards, as'shown at 12 in Fig. 1, so as to place a rounded corner 13 on the concrete.

The wheels are mounted on the corresponding shafts 8 for adjustment along the same, as shown at 14, in order that the spacing between such wheels will exactly conform to the spacing between the header boards. The wheels outwardly of the flanges are preferably rubberfaced, as shown at 15, to give better traction.

Swinging of the shaft mounting brackets 9 of each shaft 8, and which of course controls the actual level of the frame 1 When the wheels 7 are engaged with the header boards, is manually controlled by a lever 16 upstanding from a transverse shaft 17 journaled on the adjacent frame plate above shaft 8. A suitable frame-mounted holding quadrant 18 is associated with the lever. Arms '19 project from shaft 17 in alinement with brackets 9,

and are connected thereto by links 20. These links are of the turnbuckle or longitudinally adjustable type, as clearly shown. This enables the relative level of the two wheels to be altered, while at the same time they are both moved relatively up or down the same distance when the lever is actuated.

Mounted in the frame 1 between the front and intermediate plates 2 and 4, and between said intermediate plate 4 and the rear plate 3, are separate but cooperating concrete finishing units, indicated generally at 21 and 22, respectively, and each adapted to finish a different portion of the width of the transverse surface of the curb.

In the present instance the curb is of the valley-gutter type, and the transverse surface of the curb is formed With a curved portion C leading from one header board to the low point L of the gutter, and with a straight portion S leading with an upward slope from said low point to the other header board; the upper faces of said header boards being on a common level.

The finishing unit 21 is arranged to finish the curved portion C of the curb surface, and'comprises a pair of spaced endless chains 23, parallel and relatively close to the frame plates 2 and 4 and supported at the top on drive sprockets 24 connected by and secured to a common shaft 25. At the bottom, and defining a lower run of the chainstherebetween, said chains pass about direction-changing inner and outer idler sprockets 26 and 27. The axis of sprocket 26 is substantially vertically alined with the low point L of the curb gutter; the sprocket 27 being located adjacent the outer end of the curved portion C, as shown in Fig. 3. An adjustable tightener 28 is engaged with the inner face of each chain at a convenient point.

A plurality of rubber-faced concrete engaging rollers 29 are disposed between the chains 23; said rollers being turnably mounted on shafts 30 which engage and are secured to the outer faces of the chains in any suitable manner.

tion along the chains. The ends of said shafts are prefer- The shafts are disposed in evenly spaced relaably rounded, and when on the lower run of the chains engage in grooved template-forming rails 31 whose contour follows and ultimately determines that of the curved surface C of the curb; said rails being secured on the frame plates 2 and 4, and being of course arranged so that the rollers moving between the idler sprockets 26 and 27 will follow or form the exact curvature C of the curb.

The finishing unit 22 is similarly constructed and comprises endless chains 32 supported at the top on drive sprockets 33 secured on a common shaft 34. At the bottom the chains pass about direction-changing inner and outer idler sprockets 35 and 36 arranged so as to dispose the lower run of the chains therebetween in parallel relation to the straight curb surface S. The axes of sprockets 35 are in substantially vertical alinement with the low point L of the curb gutter, while sprockets 36 are located adjacent the outer end of said surface S, as shown in Fig. 4. An adjustable tightener 37 is associated with each chain 32. Rubber-faced rollers 38 are disposed between chains 32, being mounted on shafts 39 which engage at evenly spaced intervals and are secured to the outer faces of said chains by suitable means, such as is shown at 40 in Fig. 5. The ends of shafts 39, when on the lower run of the chains, ride in template forming rails 4-1 which are parallel to the curb surface S and are arranged so that the corresponding rollers will properly engage said surface S. The units 21 and 22, being spaced apart lengthwise of the frame, assure that the concrete at point L will be properly acted on and finished by the rollers of both units.

It is desirable, for good results in finishing a gutter type curb such as this, that the concrete shall be finished by a lateral movement outwardly in both directions from the low point of the gutter. In other words, the rollers of unit 21 while on the lower run move from low point L outwardly, and the rollers of unit 22 while on the lower run move from the low point L in the opposite direction.

In the present machine, the chains of the two units are driven in the following manner, as shown in Fig. 2:

A gas engine 42 is mounted on frame 1 above the finishing units, and through a gear box 43 drives a shaft 44 projecting from said box parallel to shafts 25 and 34. A chain drive 45 connects shafts 44 and 25; the latter shaft being connected to a countershaft 46 by gearing 47 which turns said shaft 46 in a direction opposite that of shaft 25. Shaft 46 is connected to shaft 34 to turn the latter in the same direction by a chain drive 46. The drive connections between shafts 25 and 34, as above described, are arranged so that shaft 34 turns sufficiently faster than shaft 25 so that the relatively long lower run of chains 32 of unit 22 will traverse its width of concrete in the same time as the shorter lower run of chains 23 traverses its width of concrete. In this manner, the finishing action on the concrete is uniform from one side to the other of the same.

At the same time, the machine may be propelled in either direction, as may be desired, in the following manner:

The wheel shafts 8 have pulleys 49 mounted thereon. which are driven by crossed belts 50 from pulleys 51 mounted on a shaft 52 extending lengthwise of the machine above the frame 1. A two-way manually actuated clutch 53 is mounted on the shaft 52 adjacent the plane of the gears 47 lengthwise of the machine; such clutch including a central shiftable member 54 splined on shaft 52 and cooperating end members 55 turnable on the shaft. One such end member is fixed with a sprocket 56 which is part of a chain drive 57 connecting shafts 52 and 25 in driving relation when the clutch is engaged with said sprocket 58. Since the shafts 25 and 46 turn in opposite directions, the shaft 52 will likewise be driven in opposite directions when the clutch 53 is engaged with one or the other of the chain drives 57 and 59.

The shaft 52 adjacent each end is supported in selfalining bearings mounted on one end of a transverse lever 60 pivotally mounted intermediate its ends on the frame 1 (see Fig. 1). A tension spring 61 between the other end of the lever and the frame 1 acts to take up any slack in the belt 50 when the frame 1 is raised or lowered relative to the wheels 7 and shaft 8 by manipulation of the corresponding lever 16. Universal joints 62 are interposed in the shaft 52 to compensate for any deflection of the end portions of the shaft by reason of movement of the levers 60.

When the machine is advancing, the wheel-engaging faces of the header boards are kept clear of concrete by means of diagonally disposed scraper plates 63 engaging said faces of the boards adjacent and in front of the wheels, and slanted to sweep any concrete on the boards laterally out therefrom. The plates 63 are mounted on upstanding stems 64 which are slidable but non-turnable in sleeves 65 mounted on the frame 1.

At times, as the concrete is being finished, it may be found desirable to dampen the same, and to this end a water tank 66 may be mounted on the top of the machine.

A valve-controlled discharge pipe 67 depends from the tank in front of the forward frame plate 2 and connects to a transverse drip pipe 68 secured on said plate (see Fig. 1).

In order to protect the lower runs of the chains 23 and 32 from being possibly fouled by concrete dropping thereon, guard plates 69 are secured to the adjacent frame plate and extend over said lower chain runs, as shown for instance in Fig. 5.

In operation, the concrete for the curb is first poured, and by means of a suitable template shaped generally to the desired transverse contour. The finishing machine is then mounted on the header boards, with the wheels 7 initially set to hold the frame 1, and the finishing units therein, raised somewhat from the fully lowered position shown in the drawings. The finishing units are then placed in operation, to work on the concrete outwardly 'in both directions from the low point of the curb contour,

and at the same time the machine is slowly advanced by properly engaging the clutch 53 with the chain drive 57; the excess concrete engaged by the various rollers of the finishing units being shoved thereby over the header boards, which are kept clean by the scraper plates 63 as the machine advances.

After the machine has made a pass over the curb, the frame is raised to clear the finishing rollers from the curb, and the machine is reversed in its direction of travel, to return the same to its starting point, by operation of the clutch 53 to connect the chain drive 59 with shaft 52.

The frame 1 is then lowered to a level below that used with the first pass, and the machine is operated to make another pass over and along the curb.

With these successive passes of the machine along the curb, the various rollers, besides finishing the concreteto its true shape or contour, act to bring the fines in the concrete to the surface and cause the coarse aggregates to be lowered below the finish grade; this making for a smooth surface finish. As many passes of the machine over the curb may be made as may be necessary to obtain the desired true finish of the curb.

From the foregoing description it will be readily seen that there has been produced such a device as will substantially fulfill the objects of the invention, as set forth herein.

While this specification sets forth in detail the present and preferred construction of the device, still in practice such deviations from such detail may be resorted to as do not form a departure from the spirit of the invention, as defined by the appended claims.

Having thus described the invention the following is claimed as new and useful, and upon which Letters Patent are desired:

1. A machine to finish a concrete curb confined beamm tween header boards set to grade; said machine comprising a frame adapted to be supported from the header boards and movable along the same in straddling relation to the concrete, a finishing unit in the frame positioned to finish the concrete from a predetermined transverse point in the width thereof laterally outward to one header board, and another finishing unit in the frame positioned to simultaneously finish the concrete from said point laterally outward to the other header board; each unit comprising a pair of endless elements spaced lengthwise of the frame, means engaging and supporting the elements in the frame so that said elements include lower run portions substantially parallel to the adjacent portion of the surface of the concrete, a plurality of rollers supported by and extending between the elements at spaced points in the length thereof and disposed to ride on the concrete when on the lower run portions of the elements, and means applied to the elements to drive the same in opposite directions so that the rollers of the two units when on said lower run portions move away from each other laterally of the curb.

2. A machine, as in claim 1, in which the extent of said lower run portions of the elements is less than the distance between the header boards, and the rollers are spaced apart along said elements so that one roller is engaged with the concrete as another roller is withdrawn therefrom.

3. A machine to finish a concrete curb confined between header boards set to grade; said machine comprising a frame adapted to he supported from the header boards and movable along the same in straddling relation to the concrete, at finishing unit in the frame positioned to finish the concrete from a predetermined transverse point in the width thereof laterally outward to one header board, and another finishing unit in the frame positioned to simultaneously finish the concrete from said point laterally outward to the other header board; each unit comprising a pair of endless chains disposed in vertical transverse planes spaced lengthwise of the frame, means supporting the chains from the frame and comprising framemounted drive sprockets engaging the chains at the top, means to drive the sprockets, inner and outer idler sprockets engaging the chains at the bottom and establishing lower chain runs therebetween substantially parallel to the adjacent portion of the surface of the concrete, and a plurality of rollers supported by and extending between the chains at spaced points in the length thereof and disposed to engage and roll on the concrete when on the lower runs of the chains; the finishing units being spaced lengthwise in the frame relative to each other, and the axis of the inner idler sprocket of each unit being disposed in substantially vertical alinement with said transverse point on the concrete.

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